Farmers get ‘Kalia’ Assistance in Odisha

Officials on Friday said that around 30 lakh small, marginal, landless farmers and share croppers have benefitted from Odisha government’s flagship Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme. 

According to PTI, the state government said that amount of Rs 1300 cr has been distributed among 30, 40,038 farmers. 

On Thursday, CM Odisha, Naveen Patnaik distributed the money of second phase to 14 lakh beneficiaries in Bargarh district. The state government had earlier distributed money to 12.45 lakh farmers in the first phase while another three lakh landless farmers were provided financial assistance. 

As per the scheme, farmers will be provided 10000 each annum, in two installments of 5000 each for Kharif and Rabi crops, for five cropping seasons between till 2021-22.  Claimed by the state, the scheme shall benefit 92% of the cultivators and include every category from big farmers to landless cultivators. The scheme is equitable, as in one or five acres of land, the assistance is same. 

Mayurbhanj district has registered the highest Kalia beneficiaries with money being received by 2, 27,070 farmers. Deogarh district recorded the lowest number of beneficiaries at 36,468 farmers followed by Jharsuguda with 36,479 farmers benefiting from the scheme.